31
I tickle Chelsea's nose with a lock of her hair. Her face wrinkles and she opens her eyes.
"Good morning."
Her eyes focus on me and a lazy smile covers her lips. "Last night was great."
"Sure was, you wild thing." I lightly nip her shoulder. She blushes, which I love. One second she's sweet and adorable, the next she's...not. "So, Tiger, what would you like to do for your birthday?"
Learning that her mom passed away on her birthday was pretty shitty. I'd like to give her some new birthday memories that will be a helluva lot better, and I know exactly how to do that—with an engagement ring.
"Last night was the best birthday ever. Today we relax." She stretches like a lithe cat. The sheet slides down exposing the curve of her breast, reminding me that she's naked as the day she was born.
"Nope. You said you were born at 11:26 p.m. That means we have all of today that still counts as your birthday."
"That's an interesting way of looking at it, Mr. Oliver." She turns on her side, propping her head on her hand, the sheet drapes her body over the dip of her waist and up over her hip. "So, what did you have in mind?"
I take in her tousled hair and relaxed smile and know exactly what I'd like to do, but I have a busy day already and need to figure out how to give her a proper birthday. "Before we can start the celebration, I've got to workout and then I have a meeting."
"You sure have a lot of meetings," she says with a wink.
"I do. But if you can keep yourself busy until mid afternoon, I'm yours for the rest of the day."
"In this city, not a problem." I love how easily she's accepted my crazy schedule.
"The next question is what would you like to do?" I give her a quick peck on the nose.
"Well, since you ask, there is one thing I want." She lifts her foot out from under the covers and draws it slowly up my bare leg, raising goose bumps, and igniting the fire I've been fighting to keep at bay. Her eyes flicker and the tip of her tongue peeks out.
"Hmm. You are the birthday girl."
An hour later, I'm in the middle of my third set of reps. I rest for a minute and think back to the day Chelsea literally danced into my life. I hadn't been looking for anyone. In fact, I'd declared a moratorium on dating for a full year since my last failed relationship with a woman named Barbie who turned out to be a soul-sucking psychopath. But Chelsea is the complete opposite. She’s smart, always positive, and makes me laugh. Plain and simple, she makes me want to be a better person. After straining through another rep until my muscles quiver with fatigue, I wipe down the machine and call it a day. Now to plan her birthday celebration.
Late that afternoon, Chelsea's cheeks and nose are rosy. "Are you sure you're warm enough?" I tug the collar of her coat higher and adjust her scarf and hat. We’re having a cold snap that chills me to the bone. "Maybe this was a bad idea."
She grins up at me, excitement sparkles in her eyes. "Do you have any idea how many years since I've ice skated?"
We wobble our way to the edge of the rink. I take a small step onto the ice and turn to her, my skates sliding easily on the smooth surface. The sensation takes me back to when I was twelve and skating with my friends at the neighborhood rink. "Ready?" I hold out my hand.
She gives me a look of fake terror and clings to the guardrail.
"Come on, if you can do flips with Dominic Yardley, you can manage ice skating with me."
"Okay, but stand back. If I go down, I don't want to take you with."
There's probably something in my contract stating I'm not allowed to ice skate. Missing a show due to a skating injury would not go over well with the producers, but the thrill of adventure on Chelsea's face is worth the risk.
She steps tentatively onto the ice, gliding forward and then wobbles, letting out a little squeal. She almost loses her balance, but then evens out. I take a couple strides and am surprised at how easily skating comes back to me. Chelsea seems to find her skating legs too, as she slides up to me with a grin.
There are few people out on this freezing cold Monday, so we have plenty of room to goof off. The majestic New York skyline surrounds us as we take a first loop. Two boys dart past, weaving in and out of the other skaters.
"Show offs!" Chelsea calls, her breath coming out in white puffs.
I take her hand and together we find our inner balance, our skates lightly scraping the ice with each step. The crisp air stings our faces, but neither of us cares. Daylight is fading and lights dot the nearby skyscrapers.
After skating, we walk several blocks to a restaurant I think Chelsea will like. She loops her arm through mine and leans her head against my shoulder.
"This is the best birthday in forever." She turns her face to me for a kiss.
"Your lips are freezing. We better find this place soon." I softly sing the theme song to Frozen and she laughs as we trek another two blocks and arrive at our destination. "Keeping with the theme of childhood birthday activities, I thought this fit."
She looks at the entrance to Serendipity 3, a quaint, kitschy tourist spot and grins. "Is this the place from the movie?"
I nod. "Want to try some frozen hot chocolate?"
"Can we skip the frozen and just go for the hot?"
"Sure." I hold the door and we enter the charming old-fashioned ice cream parlor crowded with customers. I work our way to the front of the line and give our name to the hostess. As she checks her list, I take Chelsea's coat. She slips off her hat, leaving her hair messed. I smooth it down, but she looks like a kid come in fresh from winter sledding, with her face pink from wind burn. I chuckle to myself, knowing I look the same.
"Right this way, please." We follow the hostess. Chelsea is all smiles as she admires the whimsical white sweetheart chairs and Tiffany lamps.
"I love it!" She chimes, hat in hand, as we're led to a corner table.
I wait for her to sit, but she stops short staring at someone. It's a middle-aged man dining with his family. His wife's head is turned as she speaks to two girls who have their backs to us. "You know him?"
She's frozen in place, like a deer locked in the headlights of a night driver. Her eyes never waver. Her voice comes out in a whisper. "That's my dad."